Car-coupling



(Model.)

B. J. EDWARDS.

GAR COUPLING.

Patented Aug. 16, 1881.

minesmes, W1

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

RICHARD J. EDWARDS, OF GALENA, ILLINOIS.

CAR-COUPLING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 245,801, dated August16, 1881.

Application filed July 9, 1881.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, RICHARD J. EDWARDS, ofGalena, in the county of Jo Daviess, and in the State of Illinois, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Oar-Couplings; and I dohereby declarethat the followin g is a full, clear, and exactdescription thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings,and to the letters ofreferen ee marked gitudinal sectional view of thesame.

The letter A indicates the draw-head, which is made with a flaringmouth, as usual.

The letter B indicates the coupling-pin, which passes through a verticalaperture in the draw-head in the ordinary manner.

The letter (J indicates a curved lever fulcrumed in a slot, D, in thedraw-head. The lower end of snidlever is slotted, as indicated by theletter E, the lower end resting normally against the shoulder F inthedraw-head.

G indicatesa spring securedin thedraw-head and bearing against the lowerend of the lever, as shown, the spring serving to hold and return thelever to a normal position.

The letter H indicates a chain secured at one end to the coupling-pin,and at the other to a rod, I, connecting with a lever fulcrumed on topof the car.

K is a catch, under which the end of the lever may be engaged to secureit.

The operation of myinvention'will be readily (ModeL) understood inconnection with the above description, and is as follows: The pin-isheld in an elevated position bymeans of the curved lever, the upper endof which engages a recess, L, in said pin at one side. Upon the entranceof the link the lower end of the lever is elevated, causing the upperend of said lever to be disengaged from the recess and thus drop thepin. The pin may be withdrawn by means of the lever and chain, ordirectly by hand. Thedraw-head is formed with an interval sphericalrecess, M, or, in other words, is cupped out above and below the lever.which construction permits sufficient play to the lever to permit thecoupling to be practically employed to couple cars of differentheights.When the car opposite that having my improved link is lower than thesaid ear provided with my coupler the link forces the lever up to thetop of the spherical recess, the link playing up into the upper part ofthe said recess. When the car is higher than the one having my couplerthe link is forced down into the lower part of the recess, in bothinstances raising the lever and dropping the pm.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secureby Letters Patent. 1s-- The combination, with the draw-head and thecoupling-pin provided with a recess at one side, of the curved leverlulcrumed in a slotin the draw-head and slot-ted atitslower end, and thespring located within the draw-head for holding and returning the leverto its normal position, substantially as and for thepurposes specified.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature, in presence of two witnesses,this 18th day 0t June, 1881.

RICHARD JAMES EDWARDS.

Witnesses:

THos. J. SHEEAN, DAVID SHEEAN.

